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Crap SonPosted on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at 10:33 - Post Comment
That is what I am. A crap Son. My mum has done nothing but support me throughout my whole life, and how do I repay her? Erm... well that's where the crap part comes in, as I just don't. How much does it take to remember your mum's birthday for God's sake? Ususally my sister gives me a nudge a week or so before hand to save my embarrassment, but since her 2 kids have come along, it's the last thing she's thinking about.
So there's me on Sunday, all happy and just about crowing about how successful my roast lamb was, when the phone rings and it's the parents calling me from Snowdon in the UK. 'Why Snowdon?' I ask. 'For my Birthday!' says mum. 'Oh bollocks' says I.
Yup, for the record 3rd year running, I have forgotten her birthday.
I even forgot her 50th! I am evil, and deserve all that truly evil people have coming to them.
As my mum insists on seeing the good in everyone, she forgives me every time, as it now seems to be a part of my genetic make-up. I'm sure I'll get my come uppance when MY kids just forget about me entirely once they leave the nest.
Sorry mum.
No news on the house offer yet. Apparently they are still 'considering' our offer. To be honest I don't care either way. There seems to be a few more bargains - if the overpriced boxes here can be called that -coming onto the market as it is slowing a bit due to the recent interest hikes. The variable rate here on a mortgage is now the wrong end of 10% - and I thought our UK mortgage of 5.2% was extortionate!
But the Kiwi's still borrow like crazy! Everything here is 'buy now, pay later' and 'pay using easy-pay' which is store credit at stupid interest rates. Kiwi's themselves, or more precisely those who 'must have' the latest flat screen/ fridge/ leather sofa, can borrow whatever they like here it seems. So long as they can 'afford' the weekly payments, the actual balance doesn't seem to bother them - or their creditors. How some of the people I employ at minimum wage ($11.25) or just above survive I just don't know.
I was chatting to some Kiwi's the other day (they were in to register with Select for work), and I was saying about how I was looking to invest in property, and what were their thoughts on it. And you know what - they just couldn't seem to understand it! The fact that rental money is lost money, but mortgage money (usually) brings a long term reward just seemed to escape them. They asked me what car I drove. They asked me how big my TV was. They told me about their TV, their new v6 Holden (as Vauxhall cars in NZ are called), and about how cheap their rent is. I asked about saving, and Kiwisaver (a governement run pension scheme that all are enrolled in and have to actively opt out of - a desperate and well meaning attempt to get Kiwi's to save for retirement) and what they would do if they couldn't find work? They said: WINS (work and income sevices - The Dole equivalent). Says it all really.
That aside, we're doing well, and with the soon-to-be-arriving reference for T we are waiting to see what we will be looking at investment-wise. However I am sure that I have told you all about this before. And that means that nothing else has really hapened between Sunday and now. Oh saying that - at work today I made a decent placement, which will keep the Divisional Manager off my back when she comes over to see us tomorrow. Made my day it did, and I also got an additional 4 jobs from a client that I have somefolks with already. Days like today at work make you love the job!
I got home to T swearing 10 to the dozen about the Sigma of Much Beauty, which is playing up yet again. This time it is just not idling, and so constantly stalls when you come to a standstill. A quick fiddle under the bonnet saw it working again, but it's only a temporary fix. We are fast approaching new car time, as I'm jiggered if I'll spend anything on the old girl if she's getting sold to some trusting, naiive, fresh off the plane backpacker. Nah, only kidding. I wouldn't do something like that, would I?! Or would I?
Ah well, time for bed. T's just fallen asleep on the sofa as she is pooped from meeting her class' parents today which also went well. Bless.
Toodle pip!
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